Seniors credit Meyer for Gator glory

The Florida basketball team had its 04s. The Florida football team has its 03s. There were four 04s and there are three 03s.

But surely you can name each '04 before you can name two of the '03s.

They are, in no particular order, wide receiver Andre Caldwell, right guard Carlton Medder and defensive tackle Clint McMillan. They are all redshirt seniors and all are current starters in their last season at Florida.

Each was a part of former Florida head coach Ron Zook's most heralded recruiting class that won the 2006 national championship after he was fired.

Each has had his ups and downs.

It's tough to go through five years of college, said McMillan. A lot of guys can't do it. We've gone through a lot of stuff. Especially when coach (Urban) Meyer came in we went through a coaching change, position coach changes. The '03 class had a lot of perseverance going through a lot of stuff, especially the guys last year and the guys this year.

These three players are now leaders of the team and one, Caldwell, is one of the five official captains of the squad.

With leadership comes responsibility and Caldwell said he is not only up to the task of being a leader, he is happy to be one. Four years ago he expected to be playing in a preseason football game for an NFL team at this time, not going through preseason practices preparing to play in The Swamp.

I didn't plan to be here that long, but something happened in my life and I'm still here, Caldwell said. It's great just to be a leader for some of these younger guys and show them the ropes and show them what it takes to be a champion. I'm loving it right now and I'm making the best of it.

In the 2005 season, Caldwell suffered a broken leg during a kickoff return against Tennessee in only the third game of the season. He was granted a medical redshirt and registered 57 receptions for 577 yards and six receiving touchdowns in '06.

Caldwell mulled over leaving after last season for the NFL, but decided to stay at Florida to develop more and become a first-round draft pick.

Meyer said that Caldwell's newfound work ethic should turn him into the player he wants to leave here as.

Wait until you guys see Bubba Caldwell play, Meyer said. You have not seen him play like this. I might eat my words there, but I usually don't when I see a kid perform, practice and take his game (to another level).

He was a fast guy that happened to play receiver. Now he's a wide receiver. His top ends of routes (are perfect), he's stemming, he's understanding coverages, he's blocking, he's doing everything you ask him to do.

While Caldwell came out of high school as one of the top receivers and overall prospects in the nation, Medder came in under the radar a bit, and after academic issues had to redshirt his freshman season. Now the 22-year-old lineman still finds it hard to believe that he is one of the "grandpas" on the team.

It's crazy, Medder said of him staying at Florida while most of his classmates left for the NFL. You feel like a dying breed. It's crazy to come in with them and see them all disappear. I'm like 'Dang! Where are the originals at?' But it's all good though. They all went off to better places. Some fell off, but I'm happy for the ones that did good for themselves.

Medder almost turned into one of those players that fell off. He did not bond well with Zook's coaching staff and found himself not relating to any of the coaches. Academic issues marred his freshman year and poor work ethic was about to hurt his career.

Then came Meyer.

I got a lot more love for these coaches, he said. Zook was like NFL, like straight business. There was no relationships the coaches now are like a family. (Florida's) like a home away from home. It's just more comfortable knowing that you have support.

The comfort he finally felt with the coaches and players helped propel Medder into a starting role at right tackle last season. Medder said he is taking what he learned from his own experiences to make sure the younger players on the team don't make the same mistakes he made.

Like Caldwell, McMillan lost a season to injury. He underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his right knee in August 2003 and missed the entire season. He now will be relied upon to help anchor a defensive line that must replace 159 tackles and 16.5 sacks from a year ago.

A band of talented linemen will battle the fifth-year senior for his spot, but he said he's ready to end his career as a starter and he's in better playing shape than ever.

My strength, speed, just my overall playing has gotten a lot better, McMillan said. This year I have a chance to step up (into) a starting role. This year my whole game has just definitely gotten better through spring and two-a-day camp.

The three don't talk about their age too much, but that doesn't stop the younger players from getting in their shots at the players here and there.

You might hear it every once in a while, Caldwell said. I just brush it off and keep on smiling. It ain't nothing serious. I clown on them all day so they got to get me every once in a while.

The one thing that is serious for these players is winning back-to-back national championships. They all agree that ending their careers on top of the college football world would be ideal.

I think it will be a little bit sweeter, being my last year and being a captain on a national championship team, Caldwell said. I'd love being a captain on a national championship team because you'll always be remembered. I think it'd be a little sweeter than just playing on the team.